Paliekele (Sri Lanka), July 30: Reigning Men's Asia Cup champions India, will have the extra privilege of retaining their title in 2025, as the next edition of the tournament will be held in India.
However, since in 2025 the ICC T20 World Cup would also be held, so as per the norms, the Asia Cup 2025 in India, will be played in the 20-over format, revealed Asian Cricket Council sources.
But the 2027 Asia Cup, which is set to be hosted in Bangladesh, will be played in the T20 format. The reason being simple, the ICC ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa would follow the Asia Cup then.
Worth mentioning that since 2016, when the tournament was first played as a T20 event, the Asia Cup has been used as a dress rehearsal for the ICC global event and played in the format in which the World Cup will be held.
Earlier from 1984 to 2014, Asia Cup was always played in the ODI format in every two years.
The previous edition in 2023 was hosted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which was in the ODI format. But due to India's reluctance to play in Pakistan, the tournament was held in a 'hybrid model'. India played all their matches including the final in Sri Lanka and won the title.
In 2023 Asia Cup, India defeated Sri Lanka by 10 wickets to win three of the last four editions of the Asia Cup.
So far since 1984, Asia Cup has been played 16 times. Out of which, in 2016 and 2022 it was played in T20I format. The rest 14 times it was held in the 50-over format.
India have won the Asia Cup 8 times, followed by Sri Lanka with six titles and Pakistan have lifted the trophy on two occasions.